Florida it’s Illegal to Power Your Home with Solar Panels

This is trending news that is sure to surprise you. In the United States, you would think in what many people consider to be a free country, that people would have the freedom to choose how they want to live in regards to off-grid houses. But that is simply not the case everywhere you go. With roughly 1.5 million people living in Florida who were initially without electricity from the damage that was inflicted on Florida’s energy infrastructure, many people in the Sunshine State are now questioning why it’s so difficult for them to utilize solar energy. The simple answer to that question is from one of the major electrical suppliers in the state, Florida Power and Light (FPL). They have utilized a massive lobbying campaign, which is directed at state lawmakers, to help create legal barriers to disallow people from powering up their homes with solar panels without being subject to any power companies. In fact, the current Florida state law makes off-grid houses with solar illegal. Any solar panels that are erected on a home must be connected to the main local electrical power grid. So, if you want to build an off the grid house, it is illegal to install solar panels onto your home.

Just ask Robert Tarr who, according to WFTV, spent more than $60,000 for a solar energy system of 32 solar panels for his roof. But even though Tarr's house can generate enough electricity to run indefinitely without being hooked up to a power company, legally, he still has to be connected and pay the Leesburg Electric Department for any power that he doesn’t even need. If Tarr were to stop paying his electric bill, he says Leesburg would shut off his power. City officials could also revoke Tarr's certificate of occupancy for not being hooked up to the power system. So, if this family wanted to defy the power company and remove their solar from the control of the power company, the government could then revoke his certificate of occupancy, which would make it illegal for anyone to live in the home. And rest assured that any attempt to resist one’s removal from the home would be met with the police force and violent escalation. With roof-mounted solar panels becoming more and more inexpensive, people should be producing cheap renewable energy. The fact that the state is still adhering to these old energy dinosaurs, just in order to stifle out any consumer-friendly innovation, is nothing short of infuriating.

In fact, Project Drawdown, which is a broad coalition of scientists, researchers, graduate students, PhDs, policymakers, post docs, business leaders and activists that have assembled to find and present the best available information on viable climate solutions. It is said that over the next thirty years that widespread solar energy use could save $3.5 trillion dollars and help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24.6 billion tons over the next 30 years if utilized. Ironically, solar energy panels would make for a completely self-sustaining method of energy production if ever the local electrical grid were to fail during a crisis, with something such as a hurricane.

You will find this trending news story on the Studio News YouTube channel. On the site, you will find more trending news, from World renown activist and street artist Jon Masters. Masters had already gone viral on Facebook and appeared in USA Today and featured in the AP associated press after he lost his home and boat when he was falsely arrested for trespassing on public property. Masters has already won multiple times in court exercising freedom for everyone. **